Salvia plant named ‘DANSALFUN1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘DANSALFUN1’ is disclosed, characterized by having blue flowers, a compact, well-branched plant habit and early, continuous flowering. The new variety is a  Salvia,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Salvia farinacea.

Variety denomination: ‘DANSALFUN1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program, conductedby the inventor, Gabriel Danziger. The objective of the breeding programwas to produce plants of Salvia farinacea with compact habits. The seedparent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to asSalvia farinacea ‘SAL 12.’ The pollen parent is unknown as the newvariety ‘DANSALFUN1’ is a result of open pollination, in which thepollen parent cannot be identified. The new variety was discovered onAug. 6, 2005, by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting fromthat crossing, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANSALFUN1’ by vegetativecuttings was performed at a commercial greenhouse in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel and has shown that the unique features of this cultivarare stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANSALFUN1’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DANSALFUNI’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DANSALFUN1’ as a new and distinct Salviacultivar:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit.    -   2. Very well branched.    -   3. Grayed-Blue sepals.    -   4. Early, continuous flowering.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANSALFUN1’ are similar to plants of theparent, Salvia farinacea ‘Sal 12’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANSALFUN1’ are shorter, morecompact and produce a more full plant with more lateral branches. Theparent variety is the best commercial comparison to the new variety‘DANSALFUN1.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DANSALFUN1’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 12 cm pot. Ageof the plant photographed is 6 weeks from a rooted cutting. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DANSALFUN1’ plants grown in a greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 20°C. to 28° C. The greenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlightconditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia farinacea cultivar ‘DANSALFUN1.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 5-8 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 21 days at 25° C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright annual.-   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm.-   Height: Approximately 40 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 30 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Moderately free-branching, Approximately    2 primary branches with lateral branches forming potentially at    every node.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 15 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.8 cm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: About 10.-   Stem:    -   -   Form.—Square in cross-section.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143 C.        -   Pubescence.—Lightly pubescent with soft, short feather-like            hairs.-   Internode length: Approximately 0.3 cm.-   Age of Plant Described: Approximately 6 weeks from a rooted cutting.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 6 per main branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 6.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Slightly dentate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Matte.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A. Mature foliage under            side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146C. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145C.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near Yellow-Green 146B.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Freely flowering under outdoors growing    conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring    through autumn. Year round in greenhouse environment, or under warm    conditions and high sunlight. Begins flowering between 6 to 9 weeks    of planting a rooted cuttings.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Flowers arranged in verticillasters on    spikes.-   Rate of flower opening: 3 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower Longevity on Plant: Individual flowers last 3 days on the    plant. Each spike lasts approximately 5 weeks with flowers.-   Quantity of flowers: About 4 buds and 8 fully opened flowers per    lateral branch; about 10 blooming spikes per plant.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Height.—Approximately 15-18 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—6-8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-purple group N187C.        -   Orientation.—Upright, straight.        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—The corolla is sympetalous and typically            bilabiate with 2 lobes forming an upper lip and 3 lobes            forming a lower lip        -   Size.—Small.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Tip shape.—Upper lip tip retuse, lower lip tip rounded.        -   Length.—Upper lip Approximately 0.3 cm, lower lip            Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper lip Approximately 0.3 cm, lower lip            Approximately 1 cm.        -   Petal quantity.—One upper lip and one lower lip with four            lobes. Lips are fused at base.        -   Petal apex shape.—Obtuse.        -   Texture.—Upper lip has short, feather-like hairs, lower lip            is smooth and hairless.        -   Aspect.—Acute angle to the stem.        -   Petaloids.—Upper lip has 2 petaloids, lower lip has 4            petaloids.-   Color: Petals: When opening:    -   -   Upper surface.—Near RHS Violet-Blue 94A.        -   Lower surface.—Near RHS Violet-Blue 97C with 94B at the            apex.-   Fully opened:    -   -   Upper surface.—Near RHS Violet-Blue 94A.        -   Lower surface.—Near RHS Violet-Blue 97C with 94B at apex. At            the middle of the lower surface, there is a blotch of            Green-White 157D.-   Bud.    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue 93A. Lower            Surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue 93B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Arrangement.—Acute angle to stem.        -   Height.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Quantity per flower: 2, fused to form a tube.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, surrounded with rough lines.        -   Color.—Immature: Near RHS White N155A, with Violet-Blue 92A            at apex. Mature: Near RHS Violet-Blue 92D with Violet-Blue            93B at margin of apex.-   Bracts:    -   -   Quantity.—2 at the base of each flower.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Tip.—Aristate.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Lower            surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.-   Fragrance: Leaves have a moderate, sage-like odor.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—2.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Very narrowly elliptic.        -   Length.—Approximately 2 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Grayed-Purple N186A.        -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 15A. Quantity: Not            measured.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Style.—Length. Approximately 0.8 cm. Color: Almost all white            Transparent with a touch of RHS Purple 76C along edge.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Two-parted, cleft. Color: Near RHS Purple            N87B.

Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: 4 narrow, oval shaped seeds per flower.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Salvia have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between 5 to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘DANSALFUN1’ asherein illustrated and described.